Annual report 2023
Explore Arts Access Aotearoa’s work and impact in 2023 as we strengthened accessibility, inclusion and opportunities to participate in the arts.
Image credits
He aha ngā tāke kōrero? What’s the story? 2023 cover image
The Venerable Wiremu Kaua (Bill) at Te Putanga Toi Arts Access Awards 2021.
Te Arotake Performance review 2023 cover image
A student from the Homai campus of BLENNZ in Auckland enjoys a touch tour and audio described kapa haka performance at Te Matatini 2023, delivered by Audio Described Aotearoa.
Design support: Craig Christensen and Graphic Solutions
Chair and Executive Director’s report
The world needs the arts to articulate our strengths, hopes and fears; bring joy and escape; and shed light on the past to build a better future. Artists, arts tutors and all other creatives provide social, economic and cultural benefits, including employment, improved mental health and connected communities.
Here in Aotearoa, we’ve taken some big steps over the past decade to improve accessibility and inclusion in the arts but we need to build on the momentum as we strive to achieve Arts Access Aotearoa’s vision of a society where all people in Aotearoa can access and participate in the arts.
Creative New Zealand, our core funder, continues to value and invest in accessibility in the arts. This includes developing advocacy resources and conducting research. In 2023, we were pleased to continue working with Creative New Zealand, along with Deaf and disabled artists, arts leaders and disability-led organisations, to support the development of its Accessibility Policy. This will be released in early 2024.
In addition, Arts Access Aotearoa was pleased to receive a Regeneration Fund grant from Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage. This funding, which will deliver four projects, aligns with our vision and is enabling us to support, empower and strengthen the communities we work with.
You can read the report in He aha ngā tāke kōrero? What’s the story? 2023. The Annual report 2023 includes He aha ngā tāke kōrero? What’s the story? 2023 and Te Arotake Performance review 2023.